Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 663,30I. Patented Dec, 4, I900. A. F. SHRIVEB.

AOETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Applies-H911 filed Dec. 16, 1899.) (No Model.)

IV //I/ VEII/TOH A TTQRNEYS.

m5 nonms versus cu. wommmoq wunmmo, o c.

UNITED rnrns ATENT Fries.

AUGUSTUS FREDERICK SHRIVER, OF ARBUCKLE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO HIMSELF, WVALTER STOREY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, AND

JAMES H. SMITH, OF STONYFORD,

CALIFORNIA.

ACETYLENE-GAS G EN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,301, dated December 4, 1900.

Application filed December 15,1899; Serial No. 740,435. (No modelfi To a whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS FREDERICK SHRIVER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Arbuckle, in the county of Colusa and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Gas-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for generating acetylene gas; and

the object is to provide a gas-machine of very simple construction that may be easily charged with calcium carbid and having means for automatically controlling the supply of water to the carbid.

I will describe a gas-machine embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a gasmachine embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a section of the generating-cylinder and the carbid-holder.

The machine consists of a gasometer body portion 1, in which a bell 2 is arranged, and on the upper end of the hell 2 is a drum 3 to receive an inlet-pipe as the bell moves downward. Extended horizontally in the lower portion of the body 1 is a generating-cylinder 4:,having a removable closure at one end. This closure consists of a disk 5, engaging against a rubber gasket 6 and held tightly in place by means of a screw 7, having a thread engagement with a yoke 8, hinged at one side to the end of the cylinder 4: and adapted to be engaged at the opposite end by a locking device, here shown as a swinging loop 9. The cylinder 4 is inclined downward toward the end at the closure, so that water may pass freely from said cylinder into a trap overfiow pipe 10, co nmunicating with the interior of the cylinder.

Removably placed in the cylinder is the carbid-holder, consisting of a semicircular trough 11, provided with a handle 12 at one end, and in this trough is a curved or troughlike bottom 13, of sieve material, on which the carbid is designed to be placed. The trough may be held from rotating in the cylinder 4 by means of strips 14, extended longitudinally on the inner side of the cylinder and adapted to engage with the upper edges of the carbid-holder. .From the cylinder .L a gas-supply pipe 15 extends upward in the gasometer and thence downward, as at 16, into a filter-chamber 17, and at the end within the filter-chamber isa cross-pipe 18, provided with perforations. A burner supply-pipe 19 extends into the gasometer and terminates at a point above the level of the liquid contained in the gasometer, and the upper end may be provided with a hood 20, if desired.

The filter-chamber 17 may be supported in any desired manner-such, for instance, as having a connection with the pipe 15.

A spray-pipe 21 extends longitudinally in the cylinder 4 and has perforations in its lower side. One end of this spray-pipe is seated in a socket 22, connected to the end of the cylinder 4, and the otherend of thespraypipe communicates witha Water-supply pipe 23, having a trap 24 to contain water for preventing escape of gas through said pipe when the valve 25 in the pipe is open. From the stem of the valve 25 an arm 26 extends outward and at its free end is provided with a roller 27, that engages with a cam-shaped projection 28, attached to the bell 2. A curved arm 29, attached to the bell and projected over the part 28, will serve to engage the'roller 27 as the bell moves downward, and thus the opening of the valve will be insuredthat is, without the arm 29 the valve might be prevented from turning by becoming clogged with oil or the like.

To put the machine in operation, the bell 2 is to be removed from the body portion 1, and then the body portion is to be supplied with water until the filter device 17 is about half submerged. Then as much Water is placed in the filter as it will contain, after which the bell is .to be replaced and allowed to pass down to its lowest point. Then after removing the cover of the cylinder 4 the carbidholder may be drawn out and the basket supplied with a sufficient amount of carbid-say of gas through the pipe.

I about one-half pound for each burner having connection with the pipe 19. After returning the carbid-holder the cover for the cylin der is to be tightly closed and the pipe is to be removed and filled with water, after which it is to be returned to its connection with the cylinder 4. When the bell is in its lowermost position, the valve 25 will be open, so that water from any suitable supply-tank may pass through the valve and into the spray pipe 21 to discharge on the carbid. The generated gas will pass up through the pipe 16 and into a small amount of water contained in the filter 17, tothen pass up through the water in the filter l7 and into the bell. The pressure will cause the bell to rise, and the part 28, engaging with the roller 27, will rock the arm 26 to close the valve 25, thus shutting ofl the supply of water. The water thus being cut off prevents further dripping or discharging into the carbid contained in the holder. After the generation of gas ceases or is drawn off through the pipe 19 the bell 2 can descend, opening the valve to permit a new inflow of water. The water passing through the carbid and into the lower portion of the trough 11 will flow out through an opening in the end of the trough and thence out through the trap-pipe 10. Of course a certain amount of the water will be retained in the pipe 10, so that there can be no leakage Another essential feature of the overflow-pipe 10 is that it will prevent the cylinder 4 from becoming filled and causing the pipe 15 16 to act as a siphon to draw the water out of the filter 1'7.

On the top of the water in the gasometer I preferably place a thin film of oil 31, as I have found that without this oil and the filter device the water in the body of the gasometer when thoroughly saturated with gas gives off gas when exposed to air around the outside of the bell. I have also found that the large body of water surrounding the carbid-holder keeps it cool and condenses most of the steam caused through the generation of gas.

It is to be understood that while I have show-n but one carbid-holder arranged in the cylinder 4 two or more may be employedthat is, the cylinder 1 can be provided with a partition at the center and each end provided with a removable cover, so that carbidholders may be placed in each end. In this event, however, a supply-pipe 15 must pass from each section of the cylinder, and for each section there must also be a pipe similar to the pipe 23.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A gas-machine, comprising a gasometer, a generating-cylinder arranged therein, a pipe leading upward from the cylinder and terminating in a perforated cross-pipe, a vessel in the gas-holder open at the top and into which the cross-pipe discharges, the said vessel being extended above the water-line in the holder, and means for automatically controlling a water-supply to thegenerator, substantially as specified.

2. In a gas-machine, a gasometer, a generating-cylinder arranged on the lower portion thereof, a spray-pipe in the generator, a supply-pipe connecting with the spray-pipe, a valve in the supply-pipe, anarm extended from the stem of said valve, a cam-shaped projection on the top of the gasometer-bell adapted for engagement with the free end of said arm, and a curved arm attached to the bell and projecting over the cam-shaped projection and adapted to engage the arm as the bell moves downward, substantially as specified.

3. In a gas-machine, a gasometer, a generator arranged therein, a pipe for supplying water to the generator, a valve in said pipe, an arm extended from the stem of the valve, a cam-shaped projection on the top of the gasometer-bell adapted for engagement with the free end of said arm, and a curved arm attached to the bell and projecting over the cam-shaped projection and adapted to engage the arm as the bell moves downward, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUSTUS FREDERICK SHRIVER.

Witnesses:

Mrs. W. R. GILMORE, J. H. SMITH. 

